Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-16
By WILLIAM PITTENGER, A MEMBER OF THE EXPEDITION.

lcopyrghted 1ss7 by War Publishing 3fi o.: NY..
 "Boys, Pm not prepared to meet my Jesus."
 When asked by some of us, whose tears were flowing fast, to think of heavenly mercy, he answered, still in tones of thrilling calmness, "I'Il try, I'll try, but l know Pm not prepared"
 Slavens, who was a man of immense strength and iron resolution, turned tc his friend Buffum and could only articu- late, dren-tell''-when utter ance failed.
 John Scott was we'll educated, and had left very pleasant home in Findlay, o. Father and mother, brothers and sisters have always been among the most re- been married but three days before enlist ing, and now the thought of his young and sorrowing wife nearly drove him to despair. He could only clasp his hands in silent agony.
 Campbell had half smile on his strong face, but it was terribly unreal, with no light in it, as he pressed our hands, and even muttered an unconscious oath, say ing, "Yes, boys, this is - hard"
 But Ross was a marvel and wonder to us all. A cloud had long seemed to rest upon his spirits, but now completely rolled away. All foreboding and fear were gone in the presence of the reality. Others were bitterly and terribly disappointed; he was not. The gaunt specter he had so long faced came out of the shadow, and To! it was disrobed of all terror! He was perfectly erect, with easy grace; there was not sign of dread, while his eye beamed and whole face became radiant with the martyrs joy. ''Tell them at home,'" he said, in a clear, vibrating tone, eff any Of you escape, that died for my country and did not regret it."
 Brown, Knight, Buffum, Mason and myself-all that were left of the Knox vile party-were even more affected than our comrades, for we had not the awful excitement of coming death to sustain us. Had there been 8 gleam of hope of success how gladly would we have thrown our selves on the guards and fought for the lives of our brothers But the officers and the guard filled the door and entry, while the jail yard was also full of enemies. The sense of our absolute helplessness was most agoniZing.
 All this transpired in very few min utes, and even the marshal and others with him in the door showed signs of i'm patience, and urged that their time was short. l cannot help believing, for the sake of our common humanity, that they wished to hasten only because the scene was becoming too painful for them to bear.
 Very brief leave taking was permitted with the eight who were in the other room. Robinson, who could scarcely stand, was hurried off with the rest. We heard the dreadful procession descend the stairs, and then from the window saw them enter the death cart and drive away. It was surrounded by cavalry and thus passed out of sight. In about an hour the procession returned. The cart was empty!
 On leaving us the procession had taken course which soon carried them out of sight over the summit of an adjoining hill, and continued in an easterly direc tion till it reached the Atlanta city ceme- tery-a distance of probably two miles. What thoughts crowded through the hearts of the doomed men we know not; but it is to be hoped that in this last hour of life they realized that God was more merciful than man, and found that pardon which is never denied to those who sin cerely seek.